Probiotics in Your Skin Care: Is It the Next Best Thing or a Total Fad?

Probiotic skin care is the new buzzword on the block. Probiotic beauty products claim to calm and soothe the skin, but there’s one lingering question: do they actually work? The short answer: it’s complicated.

What Are Probiotics?

Before delving into the skincare side of things, we first quizzed the experts on what the primary function of a probiotic is. Dermatologist and author of The Skincare Bible, Dr. Anjali Mahto, MD, explained that probiotics are “micro-organisms” that harness a surge of good bacteria to help cells flourish. “Similar to how probiotics treat and prevent problems in the stomach, topical versions are known for their calming effects on the skin,” he said. Mike Rogowski, a lead scientist at Plexus, added that healthy skin microbes play an important role in the maintenance of the skin’s acid mantle, which protects the skin from bacteria and environmental factors and retains moisture.